Henry David Thoreau is the founding father of American Liberation Thought. He is among the most influential and beloved writers of the 19th century. His writings have influenced and inspired millions of people across the world for over 150 years. It is for this reason and many others that he should be studied in high school. This paper will determine profound reasons why Thoreau should be taught in high school.
- Sources
(Gruenewald 14) according to Gruenewald, Thoreau made great contribution with his encapsulate environment stewardship. He was always awake to his surroundings, he saw things in new ways, and he always took the time to observe the environment. Therefore, he is remembered for changing the world in the right way.
(Thoreau 8) according to Thoreau, Thoreau is an introduction to awareness of our responsibility and our place in the planet which we ought to maintain.
(Cheever 15) according to Cheever 15, Thoreau advocated for self reliance, responsibility, respect, and dignity. Basically, he should be taught in school so as to educate students on the importance of being holistic, disciplined, and self-reliant.
(Thoreau 63) according to Thoreau 63, Thoreau gives a clear distinction between slavery and freedom, and how the two affects us. Thoreau is an icon to be taught in high school. His identity and transformation to a realist is a great inspiration that could help students develop better skills, more interest in education, and better focus in life.
- Conclusion
- Recommendation
Thoreau shows students the connection between spiritual and natural connection of nature, because he aggravates us to think what it means to be free and to be enslaved. His identity and transformation to a realist is a great inspiration that could help students develop better skills, more interest in education, and better focus in life. Through his inspiration, a student learns various ways to develop and see him/herself as a self-identity by examining nature, their place in history, and the society.
- Introduction
Henry David Thoreau is the founding father of American Liberation Thought. He is among the most influential and beloved writers of the 19th century. As one of the greatest original thinkers in America, Thoreau exemplified American values especially when the negative side of America was very visible. He was an exceptional individual, free, honest, and unconventional. He was one of the most inspiring and important philosophers who fought for justice and truth.
As one of the renowned icons, Henry David Thoreau should be taught in high schools in order to inspire students and inform them the importance of being focused on achieving goals. Henry David Thoreau is remembered for many good deeds; he lived deliberately making difficult and conscious decisions which were not common among many philosophers. His writings have influenced and inspired millions of people across the world for over 150 years. It is for this reason and many others that he should be studied in high school. Thoreau was a naturalist, a musician, a scientist, a lecturer, a scholar, and an ecologist. Among his biggest contributions is his contribution to writing. He made great contribution with his encapsulate environment stewardship. He was always awake to his surroundings, he saw things in new ways, and he always took the time to observe the environment. Therefore, he is remembered for changing the world in the right way (Gruenewald 14).
Ideally, Thoreau helps students to listen and hear the inner voice that speaks within us, to develop a sense of self, and to think rationally. Studying Thoreau will help reinstate the lost connection between the natural environment and people in the modern age. Additionally, Thoreau helps students to stir a connection with the society. He can help add personal relevance and life to students through the curricular in class. Thoreau is an inspiration, through his inspiration, a student learns various ways to develop and see him/herself as a self-identity by examining nature, their place in history, and the society. Notably, if a student is in a position to develop a sense of self, he/she becomes more open and aware to others. As a philosopher, Thoreau can give high school students the understanding that reflects a man’s personality with nature, and the consoling and comforting power of nature. Such interventions would help students realize the necessity and importance of protecting nature because it is universal and it belongs to everyone. Ideally, Thoreau is an introduction to awareness of our responsibility and our place in the planet which we ought to maintain (Thoreau 8).
Subsequently, Thoreau can give students the understanding that the life of a man is reflected in nature, consoling and comforting power of nature. This realization could help students become conscious of the importance of nurturing nature. Studies done by Thoreau can show students the connection between spiritual and natural connection of nature, because he aggravates us to think what it means to be free and to be enslaved. He gives a clear distinction between slavery and freedom, and how the two affects us. To students, Thoreau makes it clear that respect is of paramount importance in life. It is the key to a better and prosperous life. Thoreau theories can open up elements of character education. This is a significant attribute that urges students to search for their relationship to society and nature, government and environment. Just like students, Thoreau exposes himself to human dilemmas that people live in the present and not in the past. Such assumptions help students to develop coherent mindsets.
Like Thoreau, students can reject many values in the society, although they still live in it. Students can challenge and speak out because they are citizens. Such teachings from Thoreau would help individuals to question the government if it oppresses or infringes their rights. He urges people to reject unnecessary values in the society. This concept is very applicable in high schools because students are torn between a sense of something and materialism. Thoreau was responsible for his actions; he noted that the society was torn between a sense of important aspects and materialism. Just like Thoreau listened to others, students should do the same.
- Conclusion
Apparently, Thoreau was a realist. All his actions were triggered by positive factors but not necessarily personal gain. Students have a lot to learn from his teachings; a selfless and an inspiration to many, Thoreau motivates students to strive hard in order to achieve greatness. Aside having good values, Thoreau was holistically gifted. His habit of ascertaining distances and measures of objects, and his mathematical knowledge is a reflection of excellence. Students could take heed of his contribution to education. Indeed, Thoreau is an icon to be taught in high school. His identity and transformation to a realist is a great inspiration that could help students develop better skills, more interest in education, and better focus in life.
Markedly, Thoreau’s wonder and personal joy came from contemplation of nature. To some extent, he could be described as a threat to institutions, because he stood for abolition of slavery and tariffs. His actions were purely for the common good of the public. He believed that an individual should be responsible with health, goods, behavior, and life. One should not seek protection from the state; instead, one should a state and a kingdom that fears no man. Such teachings are of paramount importance in molding the lives of students. He advocated for self reliance, responsibility, respect, and dignity. Basically, he should be taught in school so as to educate students on the importance of being holistic, disciplined, and self-reliant (Cheever 15).
- Recommendation
Conclusively, His writings have influenced and inspired millions of people across the world for over 150 years. It is for this reason and many others that he should be studied in high school. Thoreau was a naturalist, a musician, a scientist, a lecturer, a scholar, and an ecologist. Among his biggest contributions is his contribution to writing. He made great contribution with his encapsulate environment stewardship. He was always awake to his surroundings, he saw things in new ways, and he always took the time to observe the environment. Thoreau shows students the connection between spiritual and natural connection of nature, because he aggravates us to think what it means to be free and to be enslaved (Thoreau 63). He gives a clear distinction between slavery and freedom, and how the two affects us. Thoreau is an icon to be taught in high school. His identity and transformation to a realist is a great inspiration that could help students develop better skills, more interest in education, and better focus in life. Through his inspiration, a student learns various ways to develop and see him/herself as a self-identity by examining nature, their place in history, and the society.
Works Cited
Cheever, Susan. American Bloomsbury: Louisa May Alcott, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Margaret Fuller, Nathaniel Hawthorne, and Henry David Thoreau: Their Lives, Their Loves, Their Work. Simon and Schuster, 2007.
Gruenewald, David A. "Teaching and learning with Thoreau: Honoring critique, experimentation, wholeness, and the places where we live." Harvard Educational Review 72.4 (2002): 515-542.
Thoreau, Henry David. The natural history essays. Gibbs Smith, 2011.
Thoreau, Henry David. The Portable Thoreau. Penguin, 2012.
